Theater Show special

Inspiration shot July 2025

A legacy, a celebration, a transition!

On June 28th, exactly on my 55th birthday, I stood on the stage of Theater Amsterdamwith a dream come true: my very own No Excuses Theater Show. A vibrant event full of stories, music, dance, life lessons, and a good dose of courage.

At first, I called it ‘retiring’ but it was really a transition to a new phase. Not an end but a fresh start. From productivity to creativity. From doing to being. From control to surrender. I will keep doing what I’m good at and what makes me happy: helping others share their story with the world and live freer. I will just take it easy and work less.

While I’m still floating on cloud nine, this Inspiration Shot takes you behind the scenes. You’ll find the best moments, the bloopers, the lessons, the people who helped me, the music, the images, and a shop link for the show recording in case you missed it, or want to experience it again.

Lessons from the theater show

How do you survive a show without a script and what does it teach you about letting go, collaboration, and truly being present? My theater show was an adventure full of improvisation, vulnerability, and unexpected magic. It showed me how important it is to dare to fail and above all to stay true to yourself even on stage.

Want to read more? I wrote a blog about it: No Excuses: my life as a theater show.
Also, check out two social media posts: ‘It’s a (w)rap’ and ‘Life writes along with my show’. The many comments and reactions are heartwarming and give a glimpse of how people in the audience experienced the show.

Audience reactions

  • “Awesome show, what energy!” – Ingeborg
  • “It was a blast being there…” – Cindy
  • “Thanks for sharing your life and business lessons in your amazing show. Thanks for being you and sharing your journey balancing masculine and feminine energy.” – Mariella
  • “Everything was so well put together, with your key life lessons, honest stories, beautiful visuals, singing, dancing, and perfectly timed scenes.” – Laura
  • “Fantastic! The hero’s journey — or heroine’s — just like every great Hollywood production.” – Pauline
  • “We really enjoyed the way you shared your life story. Beautiful, special, impressive, and inspiring.” – Meik
  • “What a celebration. A room filled with and connected to your life story. You’ve taken many steps toward growth and fulfilling changing life wishes. It’s beautiful to see how softness and letting go make someone even more radiant. You are pure and you seize the day!” – Anke
  • “We heard you, felt you, and experienced you. And we enjoyed every minute!” – Angelique
  • “Beautiful to see you so strong and vulnerable on stage. You give others permission to show more of themselves too.” – Karin
  • “It was amazing that you danced anyway even though it scared you.” – Ria
  • “After this inspiring evening, I realized that more ‘being’ shouldn’t be on your to-do list. So this morning, I made my ‘to-be list’.” – Huub

In the spotlight: the heroes behind the scenes

Without this amazing team the show would never have been so magical:

  • 🎬 Jan Wienowiecki, my director, who gently but firmly guided me when I lost track of scenes in my own show.
  • 🎭 Michael R. Jacobs, my multi-talented brother, who played every role from yoga teacher and tantra guru to minister and security guard.
  • 💃 Adrian Luna, my tango teacher from Buenos Aires, who danced with me and brought the magic of tango to life.
  • 🎶 Quique, entrepreneur and musician, who led the audience in Kirtan to open our hearts together.
  • 🧭 Marnix from Expeditie Robinson (the Dutch/Belgian Survivor show), my special guest, with whom I spent two weeks in a cave, sharing memories of stealing food and the impact of our participation.
  • 🎥 Daan van Bergen, who helped me with the many videos and visuals and produced the professional livestream.
  • And of course my assistant Jelena, who handled everything behind the scenes.

You all made this show unforgettable. Thank you! 💛

Here’s the whole team the day after the show on a boat trip through Amsterdam with bitterballen, of course! 😉

Missed the show or want to watch again?

The full recording of the theater show is ready, including an e-book of your choice. I am currently working on English subtitles, so that internationals friends can also enjoy the show.

👉 Watch the replay and order easily here.

Your birthday wishes (so sweet!)

Hundreds of people surprised me with loving and original birthday wishes for my 55th.

📖 Flip through the booklet with all the wishes.
📺 Be surprised by the funny and touching videos in this YouTube playlist.

Inspiration bites

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
All the music from the show

Lots of eighties fun, from my final dance on Wham Rap! to the emotional moments with Damien Rice and other favorites.

👉 Listen to the theater show playlist

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Stunning photos from the event

A selection of the most beautiful images, behind-the-scenes moments, and audience highlights.

👉 See the stunning photos taken by photographer Thomas Maas.

FUNNIEST SCENE

From the show

Everyone agreed that the scene with the yoga teacher (played by my brother Michael) was hilarious. The security guard who kept coming back also caused a lot of laughter.

REPORTAGE

Saar Magazine

In early June I was on Mallorca for the writing week when a team from Saar Magazine came to shoot photos for a ten-page article including the cover! So proud! The magazine is available now.

Did you know...?

Here are some beautiful moments and bloopers from the theater show. Did you know:

…that I cried when I welcomed my father with Alzheimer’s via livestream at the start of the show? Dad watched from Miami and from my first sentences I was unexpectedly emotional. That moment, totally unplanned, set the tone for an evening full of authenticity, presence, and connection.

…that the audience applauded my father’s caregivers, of whom at least eight were in the audience? Thanks to their help and commitment, my father has been able to live in his own apartment for ten years.

…that I lost my stick-on bra during the tango dance? And then I decided to take off the other pad and throw it on stage? Those things are supposed to attract less attention to your nipples but the whole audience got to see them instead, haha.

…that things got really funny when I later stood on the same stick-on bra during the final dance and couldn’t get it off my foot? No further explanation needed here.

…that I never rehearsed what I was going to say on stage? Everything was planned except my own text. I let it happen in the moment, as I prefer.

…that I completely lost my way a few times during my own show? There were 40 scenes and sometimes I couldn’t remember the order. My director Jan had to correct me or I had to ask him where to go next. Funny enough, this became a running joke and part of the show.

Where is Esther?

I’m still catching my breath in Amsterdam. Then I’ll spend a week in London for the annual Dynamite Circle conference. Starting the third week of July, I’ll resume my writing coaching.

This summer I’ll mostly stay in Amsterdam. It feels strange to have only one event on my calendar: the very last writing retreat in Thailand in November. Besides that, only fun things are planned like the Dynamite Circle conferences in Kuwait and Bangkok later this year and some other travels.

I’m trying not to plan too much yet, first clearing my backlog and seeing what the new space brings me.

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